Railway highway crossing



@Sept 1 8, v1928. v

H. E. MucHNlc RAILWAY HIGHWAY cRossING 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 6, 1927 (Wi nesse2q Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES resten yParmi-i" loier'icr.v

HENRY E. MUCHNIC, or lAUJoHIsoN, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR'TO THE Loco'iaorivn isinio MATERIAL COMPANY, OFYAT'CHI'SON, KANSAS, A CORPORATION 'or KANSAS. f

RAILWAY "HIGHWAY CROSSING.

Application 'filed May 6, 1927. Serial No. 189,195. n

My invention relates to crossing structures for use at the grade crossings of highways by railways whereby a. substantially flush crossing is provided consisting of suitable sized metallic units or sections possessing the requisite. strength and capable of easy installa-tion and ready removal when occasion arises as for example for track repair.

My invention also has for itsk object a crossing composed of a comparatively small number of sections, or unitsof self supporting type and ofa self-retaining construction, so that spiking` or fastening of the units or sections to the cross-ties of the track is unnecessary and need for special bolt holes in the rails is also obviated.

My improved construction, therefore not only permits application of the elements in.- termediate of the rails without regard to the location of the cross-ties, but also enables similar units or sections to be used as an approach to the track; the construction providing for proper clearance on the inside of the rails for the wheel-flanges, while at the same time presenting a top surface affording the necessary traction.

The above recited objects and others, as well as the advantages inherent in the construction. will all be readily comprehended .from thel detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein: f I

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved crossing as applied to a single track.

Figure 2 is aI cross sectional view taken substantially on the'line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is longitudinal sectional view of aY section kintermediate of the rails, as for example on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure d is a plan view of a crossing in-`- volving a modified form of my invention; portions of two track-rails being shown and one end of the crossing shown broken away.

Figure 5 is across section. taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the spacer members employed in the construction sliown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross-section of a portion crossing adjacent to one rail, showing a modified form.

In the eXemplilicat-ion of the invention, as disclosed in the first figures of the drawings, 10, 10 represent the running or track rails of T-shape or the usual well known railroad rail construction, mounted on the usual cross= ties 11 which generally extend beyond the outer sides of the rails.

The rails are frequently mounted immediately on tic-plates secured to the cross-ties by the same spikes which securefthe rails to the ties, but as my improved construct-ion is en tirely independent of the rail supporting and fasten-ing means, the tie-plates and rail joint forming elements are not shown.

The crossing and especially that `portion located intermediate ofthe rails 10, 10 is preferably `made in portable sections of suitable and more or less uniform lengths and also preferably consists of a number of sections ldisposed side by side intermediate of the rails constituting what maybe termed an intermediate section 12, and two side sections 13, 1.3, see Figure 2.

The side sectionsl, as shown in Figure 2, are identical in construction and each consists of a number of T-shaped beams or inverted rail elements 14, the heads 15 whereof rest on the crossties 11while the ianged base portions constitute the upper crossing surface.

rlhe railsl are held in proper.` inverted position and spacedA relation by spacing members 16 preferably of metal to provide the requisite strength and also prevent rapid deterioration. ln the particular exemplication illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, these spacers are shown in the nature of hollow metallic filler blocks, of substantially rectangular configuration in cross-section. These spacers may be of any predetermined length, preferably in comparatively short block form; any suitable number being employedto a give-n` length section, for ex ample, say four spacers to every ten feet length of section.` The specific spacers of the exempiification have top and bottom por-- tions of somewhat greater width than tli'e vertical depth of the sides which contact with the webs of the inverted rails v14; the juncture between vthe sides and the top and bottom being slightly curved to Vconform with the side contour `of the inverted rails 14;` andV also preferably contact at bottom with the headL portion ofthe rails 14 and at top with the lower surface of the flanges ofthe rails.. It is apparent thatl the supporting surface formed by 'the rail-flanges is reenforced by the spacer members. The transverse dimensions of thel spacing 'meins hers larepreferably slightly greater than lie the width of the base otith'erail members 14,

l in order to provide a ,slightV space between the opposing edges of adjacent rail memportion of the T-shaped members Vat points where the spacers are to be located are provided with holes therethrough to receive the fastening bolts or rods 18.``

In order that the construction may be portable and readily handled, the crossing is preferably made in sections as previously mentioned, with the intermediate section 12, in the particular exemplilication shown consisting of a. pair of fT-shaptd members or parallelly arranged inverted railroad rails of desired length secured together with hollow .blocks or spacer members 16 therebetween at predetermined spaced points intermediate ozt and at the ends of the inverted rail members; the elements being secured together by short rods or bolts 18; while the side sectionsl are shown consisting oi' three e inverted rail members 14, spacedly held together by the intermediate hollow lblocks or members 16 which Vform contact with the entire web portion of the rail members.

,The side sections 13, however,'are intentled to provide a suiicient wheelf-Hange receiving space on the inner sides of the two rails ofthe track and `I therefore `show these side sections 13 `also involving a narrower'hollow block or spacer element 19w-wl1ich is practically half the width of the elements 16--one flat side bearing against the vertical web of the outerrail element 14, while itsopposite flat side has the flanged base of a horizontally orsidewise disposed rail clement 2O bearing there-against. VThe various elements 14, 16, 19 and 2O are secured together by rods 18 and the ballor head oi the rail member 20 is adapted to have bearing relation with the side ot the `track railV 10 beneath the ball or head thereof.A In order to prevent short circuitin'g oit the signallingand other circuits which are completed `through the rails, the-ball or head 2l of the spacingrrail element 20`is preferably provided with suitable insulating material as at 22. Y

AAs previously stated, the crossing, espey eially between the rails of a track, is made in sections not only of predetermined length and arranged 1n end to end `relation in keep- Ving with the Width of the crossing or highway, but in sections to be arranged parallel with eachother onside by side relation intermediate of the rails a's shown in Figure 2; nI prefer that the crossing intermediate of the rails of` a track consist of anumber of sections, as for example three sections as shown, to venable ready handling; `the sec` tions, as disclosed in Figure 1 being all of equal length. i

At the left hand end of Figure 2 I show a portion of the crossing elements employed intermediate of adjacent parallel tracks. These elements, like those previously described,'consist of the T-shaped beamsV or inverted rail members 14, which may be arranged on the outer ends of the cross-ties 11, and the beams held in spaced relation by the spacers 16.- The 'T-shape beams or inverted rail members adjacent to the outer sides of the track rails are maintained in position by the spacer elements or blocks 23 substantially similar in construction to the spacing elements 16, except that they are of narrow width and provided with the upper and lower sloping surfaces 24 in order that the rail engaging'side 25 maycontact with the web of the track rail 10 andbe disposed beneath the ball or head thereotl while also resting on the base iangeof the track rail 10. It is apparent that the construction shown to the left in Figure 2 may also constitute the approach portion of the crossing. Y

I prefer to have the opposite sides ofthe crossing,.namely the outer ends of the crossing sections, taper oft" 'toward the bottom of the various members, as more clearly yshown 'in Figure 3 where the `outer end of the T- beam or inverted rail'member 14 is cut away or beveled at an angle as shown at 26` lVhere the beams are tapered as just described, the spacing members 27, arranged intermediate of the beams adj acentthe outer ends, are alsovpreferably made with a. tapered or beveled end, as shown at 28 in Figure 3, to conform with the bevel of the T-bea-nr` or rail member 14.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6, I show a modified form ofrmylmproved crossingas well as a i modification in its arrangement or placing, especially between the track rails 10, 10. 'lille crossing disclosed `1n these figures, like that shown in the previous figures, consists of the main supporting surface members in the forni of the T-beams or inverted rails 14 held in proper position and spaced relation lby thcspaciug elements or blocks 29. These spacers 29 are substantially'identica-l with the spacing members 16 previously described, except that the top surface of these spacing blocks 29 is shown provided with an upstanding lug or lip 3Q adapted to 'ex-l tend intermediate of the opposing longitudinal faces of the flange port-ions of the in-V verted rails 14, thereby providing a gripping top surface to the crossing for the purpose of traction. 1 Y

The crossing between the rails, like in the vpreviously described construction, is preferably made inunits 31, 31 which constitute the side sections andlunit 32 which constitutes an intermediate section. The

crossing construction `shown in .Figures 4 130 rieseeee .and has the inner longitudinal sidesrof the sections 3l each provided with a spacing block or member 33 practically consisting of a vhalf of the spacing members 29, as shown in Figure 6, and provided with the Yvertical web or wall 34 formed integral with the upstanding lug 30. rEhe intern'iediatey section or unit 32, along its longitudinal sides, is also preferably provided with a corresponding half-sized spacing member or block 33; and the flat vertical webs 34 of the two half sections of the spacing block are arranged in face to face relation, as shown in Figure 5. rlie outer longitudinal sides .ofthe side sections or units 3l in this con' struction are provided with a spacing block and rail-engaging member 35, lthe main body portion whereofflike spacers 33, practically consists of a half of the spacing blocks previously described and preferably without the upstanding lug 30. The outer vertical face ofthe member 35 lis provided with a laterally disposed arm 36 terminating in a kvertically disposed shoe 37 conforming somewhat to the contour of the adjacent side or face of the track rail 10 inV order to .fit in between the ball or 'head of the rail and the flanged'base portion thereof.

The -shoe portions 37, in order to prevent any short circuit-mg of the track circuits are provided with suitable insulation shown at 38.

relation by spacing members 29 and eachl longitudinal side provided with a half-spacing block or member 33; the T-beams 14; and the intermediate soacing members 29 of the respective sections being preferably secured together by suitable long rods or bolts 18.

The T-beams or inverted rail members, which may be of any pre-selected length to permit easy handling, are preferably ar-` ranged longitudinally of the track rails so as to provide staggered joints. As shown in Figure t where the T-beams of the side sections 3l adjacent to the track rail are arranged to provide the abutting joint at 39, while the next T-beam or inverted rail member of the aligned side sections 31 provides abutting relation at the point indicated. at Li0; the respective abutting `joints throughout the crossing being preferably staggered as shown in Figure ll.

It will, be understood that the spacing members, as in thevpreviously described construction, preferably consist'of short blocks or members arranged at 'predetermined vride upward on the sloping beveled surface.

Instead of employing the hollow spacing blocks heretofore described, the T-beams or inverted rail members 14l may be held in proper spaced relation andjproper upright position by small blocks of -beam construction in cross section, with the flanges thereof f disposed yagainst the vertical web portions of the inverted rails intermediate of the 'ball and flanged portion thereof as shown in Figure at atl; the spacing members il 'and inverted rail members of each sectionbeing secured together in'any suitable manner, as for example `by the long bolts or rods 42 disposed through the flanges of the I-beam blocks and the webs of the inverted rail members.

The constructions have been shown will provide a railway highway crossing formed of portable sections while at the same time producing a self-supporting crossing'adapted to maintain its position With- -out necessity for special fastenings to the cross .ties or to the track rails. l"ilhis not only enables the crossing to be readily installed at any desired point, but also permits the quick removal of the crossing in sections or in its entirety for the purpose of replacing cross ties or repairing the trackway, bond wires, etc. should occasions require. b'

l have shown what l believe to be the best embodiments of a self sustaining crossing which have been described in terms employed merely as terms of description and not as terms of limitation, as certain structural modificatirmsn'iay be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invetion. i

l'Vhat l claim is: y l y l. A railroad highway crossing comprising a plurality of parallelly disposed T- shaped members arranged to present a flat upper surface, spacing members intermedi-v ate of the vertically disposed sidesof adjacent T-shaped members, and fastening means disposed transversely through theT-shaped members and the spacing members.

2. A railroad highway crossing comprising a plurality of supporting members, a plurality of spacer members arranged intermediate of the supporting members in bearing relation `therewith intermediate of the upper and lower endsthereof, and removable tie-means disposed transversely through Athe supporting members and the spacer members.

ysupporting members and the spacer members.

' 4. A railroad highway crossing comprising in combination with a pair of rails between which the crossing is arranged, supporting members consisting of T-shaped members of predetermined lengths, uniform spacer members arranged at prearranged` points intermediateof the supporting mem- `bers, laterally extending portions on the spacer members opposite the rails disposed ina plane beneath the tops of the rails f or maintaining the crossing in spaced relation with the rails to provide wheel-flange space, said portions adapted to have insulated bearing relation with the webs of the rails, and

` tie-means whereby said members are securedtogether.

5. A railroad highway crossing composed of inverted rail sections arranged in parallel spaced relation with the rails, spacer members arrangedat spaced points intermediate of the web portions of adjacent rail sections,

Vhorizontally disposed elements intermediate of the opposing faces of thel outer side rail sections and the track rails whereby wheeliiange spaces between the track rails and the crossing are provided, and common tiemeans whereby said rail sections, spacer members and said elements are bound toget-,her in preselected number to form crossing sections of predetermineddimensions.

6..In combination with a pair' of track rails, a crossing composed of 4self-supporting sections, each section comprising a plurality of T-shaped beams arranged in parallel spaced relation with each other and with said track rails, spacer blocks having wide Vertical sides bearing against the vertical portions of adjacent beams adapted to main- -track rails, spacer members with wide sides bearing against the vertical portions of adjacent beams adapted tomaintain the upper horizontal portions of said beams in slight spaced relation, said spacer members having upstanding projections disposed between the upper horizontal portions of saidrbeams.-

8. kA railroad highway crossing comprising a plurality of parallelly arranged selfsujiporting beams disposed lengthwise of the track rails, and aplurality of spacer members arranged intermediate of the beams in bearing relation with the sides thereof.

` 9. A railroad highway crossing comprising prearranged units each consisting of supporting beams, Spacer members arranged between the beams in bearing` relation with the sides thereof, means whereby the beams and spacer membersofeach unitare secured together, spacer blocks intermediate of the sides of the beams of adjacent units, and rail-engaging elements `adapted to bear against the sides of the beams of the side units and the webs of the adjacent rails of the track. Y

10. A railroad highway crossingcomprising' a plurality of elongated self-supporting beams arranged in parallel relation and provided with supporting bases andrlaterally enlarged upper surfaces, spacer members disposed between the beams in bearing relation l with the sides thereof between the bases and enlarged upper surfacesand rail-engaging members inbearing relation with the side beams and with the sides of the adjacent rails, said last mentioned rail-engaging` members being formed to provide wheel flange spaces. f HENRY E. MUCHNIC.

UNI 

